::hugs:: I'm sorry about how tough things are right now.
I definitely understand the writing frustration, for what that's worth. I can't write just one genre at once because it doesn't feel at all natural to me. And, although one could argue that the catch-all 'Literary Fiction' ought to work, I can safely say that nothing I write qualifies as Literary Fiction. ;) It's all far too melodramatic for that.
I'm more interested in things like adventure, urban fantasy, alternate history, re-imaginings of stories. All very well and good, but I know of few markets for such things.
Yeah, they all seem to get dropped into some large, nebulous 'fantasy' bin, but it doesn't quite work, I don't think.
I would say that your stuff doesn't qualify as literary because it's not sufficiently pretentious and it's far too interesting. (I think that "literary" is code for "a boring, self-important story where nothing happens but which the critics claim is Deeply Significant For Our Times.")
Ha. Also a good point. I don't like most literary fiction and that is why. Every now and again, something brilliant slips through the cracks, but for the most part, you are completely on the spot.
(Incidentally, it makes me tremendously happy every time the Guardian's Bad Sex awards are announced and I'm reminded of exactly why I don't read literary fiction.)
Seconding the recommendation to try getting an agent. Some publishers just won't take unagented manuscripts. I read PubRants sometimes - not saying that this is the best option, but they have links to other people too, and it's a place to start. I also enjoy the (sf) author Tobias Buckell's blog. He talks about everything from worldbuilding to royalties (here's a post about sf/f novel advances and other data based on a survey he did), and links to various cool things.
That's about as far as my knowledge of the business side goes, unfortunately.
Assuming you're willing to trust my opinion, that is. ;-)
Anyway, I've been studying publishing from a would-be author's perspective for quite a few years and have stored up bags of advice on the subject, all against the time when I might actually finish something. I'll share it if you like.
*puzzled* Why would I not be willing to trust your opinion?
Anyway, I've been studying publishing from a would-be author's perspective for quite a few years and have stored up bags of advice on the subject, all against the time when I might actually finish something. I'll share it if you like.
Perhaps in your writing--which is beautiful in clarity and precision--you should write something you feel interested in and can finish, and then look around for suitable publishers. I've never thought of you as a romance writer from your fanfiction; you write a lot of amazing stories that are about more important things than A kissing B.
Ouch! I hope that the wound on your leg gets better soon. Would a pillow like this one help with your lymphedema tarda? I've bought products from this catalogue before and they've worked quite well.
As for the story about the girl murdered in the backyard, that reminds of the story my parents tell me about a girl who was murdered just down the hill from where I live.
As for writing, I agree with the other people who say you should just write what you feel like writing and go from there. As a young woman in her early twenties, I can tell you that stories where romance is not the main focus are important. Romance is all well and good, but when every book aimed at women my age has romance in it, it honestly feels stifling. I would definitely buy your books if they were published.
It probably would help, but the price is ridiculous. There's no way that I could afford to spend almost a hundred dollars extra, given my current monthly budget. I wouldn't be able to pay at least one bill. And I had to pay almost 200 dollars this month for cable, phone and internet because Comcast the Contemptible did not deign to e-mail me and tell me that my money-saving Triple Play package was expiring. So I'm going to be short this month, which is worrisome.
(They claim that they put the expiration information on the online bill, which they did NOT do. What they probably did was put the info on the PDF version of the bill that is only available if I download it for a half hour. And I have no need to look at that; all OTHER relevant information about the bill is available on Comcast's website.)
I can tell you that stories where romance is not the main focus are important. Romance is all well and good, but when every book aimed at women my age has romance in it, it honestly feels stifling. I would definitely buy your books if
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I definitely understand the writing frustration, for what that's worth. I can't write just one genre at once because it doesn't feel at all natural to me. And, although one could argue that the catch-all 'Literary Fiction' ought to work, I can safely say that nothing I write qualifies as Literary Fiction. ;) It's all far too melodramatic for that.
I'm more interested in things like adventure, urban fantasy, alternate history, re-imaginings of stories. All very well and good, but I know of few markets for such things.
Yeah, they all seem to get dropped into some large, nebulous 'fantasy' bin, but it doesn't quite work, I don't think.
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(Incidentally, it makes me tremendously happy every time the Guardian's Bad Sex awards are announced and I'm reminded of exactly why I don't read literary fiction.)
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That's about as far as my knowledge of the business side goes, unfortunately.
Reply
Anyway, I've been studying publishing from a would-be author's perspective for quite a few years and have stored up bags of advice on the subject, all against the time when I might actually finish something. I'll share it if you like.
Reply
Anyway, I've been studying publishing from a would-be author's perspective for quite a few years and have stored up bags of advice on the subject, all against the time when I might actually finish something. I'll share it if you like.
That sounds quite enormously helpful! Thank you!
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*blush* Thank you. I appreciate that.
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As for the story about the girl murdered in the backyard, that reminds of the story my parents tell me about a girl who was murdered just down the hill from where I live.
As for writing, I agree with the other people who say you should just write what you feel like writing and go from there. As a young woman in her early twenties, I can tell you that stories where romance is not the main focus are important. Romance is all well and good, but when every book aimed at women my age has romance in it, it honestly feels stifling. I would definitely buy your books if they were published.
Reply
(They claim that they put the expiration information on the online bill, which they did NOT do. What they probably did was put the info on the PDF version of the bill that is only available if I download it for a half hour. And I have no need to look at that; all OTHER relevant information about the bill is available on Comcast's website.)
I can tell you that stories where romance is not the main focus are important. Romance is all well and good, but when every book aimed at women my age has romance in it, it honestly feels stifling. I would definitely buy your books if ( ... )
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